The GOP is in a big mess of trouble. President Obama delivered the 2013 State of the Union address on Feb. 12, and his incredibly ambitious tone seemed less like that of a president in his second term than of a candidate pursuing reelection.

It was an interesting juxtaposition, because even though Obama knew many of the goals that he championed were likely an impossibility due to a Republican controlled House of Representatives, he chose to focus on them regardless.

Obama painted a picture of America’s future over the next four years that would carry big changes in the day to day lives of many Americans. Some policies he outlined in the address include a $9 federal minimum wage, illegal immigrants having a path to citizenship, federally funded preschool being available to all 4-year-olds, increased background checks for people purchasing guns, higher taxes, and a sizable investment in improving America’s roads and bridges.

Nearly every change that Obama suggested in his speech is supported by the American public, according to polling done by various institutions. A Public Religion Research Institute poll in 2010 showed that two-thirds of Americans – including 51 percent of Republicans in favor – wanted the minimum wage increased to $10. A 2013 Washington Post-ABC News poll showed 83 percent of Americans favoring tighter border security, and 55 percent of Americans favoring offering illegal immigrants a path to citizenship. A Washington Post-Kaiser Family Foundation poll showed that 63 percent of Americans favor increased spending on infrastructure and public works as a way to create jobs.

So if the country were governed by inspiring speeches instead of oppositional partisan politics, there would be some serious change with a serious price tag. Instead, it will be difficult for most of these things to pass. “It sounded like a Christmas list to me. The question is, how do you pay for [preschool] in every state, how do you pay for $9 an hour?” said Sen. Tim Scott, (R-S.C.)

This is a valid question both parties are fond of asking, but for the Democrats, their stance on social issues is a mainstay to garner support in an increasingly diverse America. For the Republicans, fiscal responsibility and conservatism are the only things they can agree on.

There is a clear underlying signal from Obama’s State of the Union speech. The Democrats are confident that they are the party of the futureand see no reason to back off of the liberal social policies that appear to be the driving force behind their victory in the presidential race.

It will be interesting to see what Obama can do in his second term, but another struggle will be equally fascinating. Can the Republican party convince the average voter that it’s a brand new GOP?